✨Part 2: Describe an activity you enjoyed in your free time when you were young.
You should say:
- what it was
- where you did it
- who you did it with
- and explain why you enjoyed it
As a child, I had a great passion for playing "ô ăn quan" or " mandarin square capturing," a traditional Vietnamese board game for children. Unlike other kids who enjoyed outdoor activities, I preferred staying indoors and playing this game with my mum, who actually taught me how to play it.
The game was quite simple. Two players would take turns placing black and white stones on the grids on the board, similar to chess pieces. The player who managed to distribute the stones in such a way that the next grid was empty would then slap that empty grid and capture all the stones of the next grid. As a little girl, playing this game allowed me to make calculations in my head and use tactics that would be helpful in winning the game. However, my mum was a master of this game, and no matter how much effort I put into my calculations, she always seemed to be a step ahead and win the game. Since my mum was the only one in the house willing to play this game with me, I would always beg her to play with me as soon as I got back from school. We used to play for hours until my mum almost forgot to make dinner.
What I loved about this game was that it gave me a chance to learn about Vietnamese traditions and also to spend quality time with my family. At the time, the Internet had not yet taken over our lives, and there were limited entertainment options available. Sadly, these traditional games are now less popular, as technology has completely transformed the way we spend our leisure time. I often think back to those days when I was a child, sitting across from my mum and trying to outsmart her.
- Outdoor: /ˈaʊtˌdɔːr/ (adj) - ngoài trời, về phía ngoài
- Preferred: /prɪˈfɜːrd/ (adj) - được ưa chuộng, được lựa chọn, được ưu tiên
- Similar: /ˈsɪmələr/ (adj) - tương tự, giống nhau, cùng loại
- Distribute: /dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/ (v) - phân phát, phân phối, phân bố
- Allowed: /əˈlaʊd/ (adj) - được phép, được cho phép, được cấp phép
- Calculations: /ˌkælkjʊˈleɪʃənz/ (n) - sự tính toán, sự tính số liệu, sự ước tính
- Tactics: /ˈtæktɪks/ (n) - chiến thuật, thủ đoạn, thủ đô
- Traditions: /trəˈdɪʃənz/ (n) - truyền thống, phong tục, tập quán
- Entertainment: /ˌɛntərˈteɪnmənt/ (n) - giải trí, tiêu khiển, trò chơi
- Technology: /tɛkˈnɑːlədʒi/ (n) - công nghệ, kỹ thuật, kỹ nghệ
- Transformed: /trænsˈfɔrmd/ (v) - biến đổi, chuyển đổi, biến hóa
- Outsmart: /ˌaʊtˈsmɑːrt/ (v) - vượt qua, đánh bại, thông minh hơn
PART 3
✨What type of leisure activities are popular in your country?
People in Vietnam have a number of leisure activities to choose from, ranging from traditional folk games to modern recreational activities. Outdoor pastimes are quite popular, such as playing sports like soccer, badminton, or foot shuttlecock, and working out in public parks. Also, eating out is a common leisure activity for many people. For those who prefer indoor activities, watching their favourite TV shows at home or playing video games are also popular leisure pursuits.
✨Why is it important for people to have leisure activities?
Leisure activities are crucial for people who have busy lives. They can help us relax, reduce stress, and enhance our overall mental and physical health. When we take a break from work and participate in pastimes, it can boost our productivity and creativity. We can come back to our work feeling refreshed and energised. Recreational activities also allow us to connect with others who share the same interests, which can help us create friendships, networks, and a sense of community.
- Crucial: /ˈkruːʃl/ (adj) - quan trọng, cốt yếu, then chốt
- Participate: /pɑːrˈtɪsɪpeɪt/ (v) - tham gia, tham dự, cùng hưởng
- Creativity: /ˌkriːeɪˈtɪvəti/ (n) - tính sáng tạo, sự sáng tạo, tinh thần sáng tạo
- Refreshed: /rɪˈfreʃt/ (adj) - cảm thấy được làm mới, cảm thấy tươi mới, cảm thấy sảng khoái
- Recreational: /ˌrekriˈeɪʃənl/ (adj) - thuộc về giải trí, mang tính giải trí
✨Why are some leisure activities more popular than others?
Some leisure activities may be more popular than others due to factors such as accessibility, affordability, and familiarity. For instance, in Vietnam, public parks offer free exercise equipment and walking paths, making outdoor exercise a more accessible and affordable option compared to expensive gym memberships. Plus, some activities may have been around for a long time and become familiar and comfortable to people, making them hesitant to try new ones.
- Affordability: /əˌfɔːrdəˈbɪləti/ (n) - tính khả năng chi trả, tính giá cả phải chăng
- Familiarity: /fəˌmɪliˈærəti/ (n) - sự quen thuộc, sự thân thuộc, sự hiểu biết
- Affordable: /əˈfɔːrdəbl/ (adj) - giá cả phải chăng, có thể chi trả được
- Compared: /kəmˈpeəd/ (v) - so sánh, đối chiếu, đối lập
- Familiar: /fəˈmɪliər/ (adj) - quen thuộc, thân thuộc, hiểu biết
✨Do you think that parents should choose leisure activities for their children? Why/Why not?
Parents are the ones who understand their children's interests and needs the best, so they should be in charge of selecting their leisure activities. Of course, I don't support parents forcing their children into activities that aren’t suited for them, but they should be able to know which activity is right for their children. This allows parents to have control over what their children do and prevents them from adopting any bad habits or hanging out with bad people. At the end of the day, the best thing to do is to involve the children in making this decision and choosing the most suitable activities.
- Understand: /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ (v) - hiểu, lĩnh hội, nắm được
- Selecting: /səˈlektɪŋ/ (v) - lựa chọn, chọn lựa, tuyển chọn
- Activity: /ækˈtɪvəti/ (n) - hoạt động, sự hoạt động, công việc
- Adopting: /əˈdɑːptɪŋ/ (v) - áp dụng, thực hiện, nhận nuôi
- Suitable: /ˈsuːtəbl/ (adj) - phù hợp, thích hợp, đúng loại
✨Has free time activities among people in your country changed much more than that of 2 decades ago?
The way Vietnamese people spend their free time has undergone significant changes over the past 20 years. Although I wasn't around back then, I can envision that people used to enjoy activities like going to the cinema or hanging out with loved ones. Nowadays, there's a lot more to do, like hitting the malls, restaurants, or gyms. Additionally, due to the rise of technology, many people now spend their free time using their phones or engaging in online activities.
- Undergone: /ˌʌndərˈɡɔːn/ (v) - trải qua, chịu đựng, kinh qua
- Envision: /ɪnˈvɪʒən/ (v) - tưởng tượng, hình dung, mường tượng
- Cinema: /ˈsɪnəmə/ (n) - rạp chiếu phim, điện ảnh
- Malls: /mɔːlz/ (n) - trung tâm mua sắm, khu mua sắm
- Technology: /tekˈnɑːlədʒi/ (n) - công nghệ, kỹ thuật, công nghệ học
- Engaging: /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒɪŋ/ (adj) - hấp dẫn, lôi cuốn, đáng chú ý
✨What changes do you think technologies have brought in the way people enjoy their leisure activities?
Technologies have definitely brought in new entertainment options for people to enjoy during their leisure time. In the past, people had a limited number of choices when it came to having fun. However, thanks to technology, many new types of leisure activities that were once impossible are now readily available. For instance, people no longer need to go outside to buy CDs or DVDs to listen to music or watch movies. With streaming services like Spotify and Netflix, we can easily do these activities while lounging in your cozy home.
- Definitely: /ˈdefənətli/ (adv) - chắc chắn, nhất định, dứt khoát
- Entertainment: /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/ (n) - giải trí, sự giải trí, trò giải trí
- Leisure: /ˈliːʒər/ (n) - thời gian rảnh rỗi, thời gian nghỉ ngơi, sự thoải mái
- Impossible: /ɪmˈpɑːsəbl/ (adj) - không thể, không thực hiện được, không có khả năng
- Streaming: /ˈstriːmɪŋ/ (n) - dịch vụ truyền phát trực tuyến, phát trực tiếp
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